[QUOTE
Allen do you deal with the Aquaphor around here at all? Just wondering since in the 26 years we have had a house there I've never seen it drop five feet in a matter of months. The river being low is obviously the biggest factor but have to wonder if Bismarcks new intake might not be drawing it down a chunk as well.[/QUOTE]
I don't specifically work with the groundwater in and around Bismarck, but am reasonably familiar with it.
The groundwater in and around Bismarck is low now simply because we were pretty dry last fall and this spring right up until last week. It just hasn't been getting the recharge it's accustomed to. In general though, the groundwater along the Missouri is heading towards the river, not being supplied by the river. The new city water intake is a unique example where they pump enough to actually reverse the groundwater flowpath (very locally) and eventually get river water into the city water supply.
The higher the river the slower the natural movement of water from the aquifer into the river. Conversely, a lower river speeds the groundwater in its path to the river. We know groundwater though is almost always heading to the river by taking a windshield look at water quality. Very little dissolved iron in the river, but take a look at any lawn with a sprinkler system out by Fox Island and note the color of the water stain on the trees and buildings. That isn't river water, it's groundwater sourced up and away from the river itself. It also tends to be high in nitrates, so you can forego buying fertilizer as you will essentially be having your upstream neighbors supplying it for you if you have your own shallow well.
I'd be surprised if Bismarck's new water intake has a significant effect on the water table more than a couple hundred feet away from the collector wells. They are designed to capture river water to avoid having to treat the iron problem, etc.
I may try to swing up to McDowell and see if I can snag a couple before taking the youngest (2 yo).
